Some restrictions on clefts that highlight predicate nominals
- 1 March 1984
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Journal of Linguistics
- Vol. 20 (1) , 131-154
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022226700009877
Abstract
It is well known that a cleft whose focal item functions as predicate nominal in theWH/that-clause is often unacceptable, or at least questionable:(I) (a) *It's a genius that he is. (Leech & Svartvik, 1975: 181)(b) *It's a conductor that John is. (Stockwellet al.1977:107)(c) *It's the football coach that John is. (Emonds, 1976:140) In this article I will investigate different types of clefts highlighting predicate nominals. I will point out five different restrictions that may lead to partial or complete unacceptability and develop a theory that can account for them.Keywords
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